Index
- An update on the different stages of Lyme disease
- Definition and cause of Lyme disease
- Risk factors for the disease
- Symptoms and Stages of Lyme Disease
- Stage 1: Early or localized
- Stage 2: Early disseminated stage
- Stage 3: Late disseminated stage
An update on the different stages of Lyme disease
Lyme disease, which has been the subject of much ink lately, is beginning to make itself known to the general public. Transmitted to humans through tick bites, this disease can affect anyone. The bite of an infected tick can go unnoticed and can lead to serious complications over the years. It should be pointed out that the disease progresses over several months or even years. Many questions can be asked about this pathology, but in what follows, light will be shed on the main stages of Lyme disease.
Definition and cause of Lyme disease
As it has been previously advanced, Lyme disease is a vector-borne disease. This means that it is transmitted to humans and mammals by a vector, which is ticks. However, not all ticks transmit the disease. In fact, only ticks infected with the bacterium called B. Burgdorferi that can transmit Lyme disease. This type of arachnid is particularly active during the summer, near forests and wooded areas.
As far as the contagion of Lyme disease is concerned, you should know that it is not transmitted between humans. Therefore, there is no risk if you come into contact with an infected person. Although pets can also be affected by the disease, they cannot transmit it to humans. Basically, only the bite of an infected tick can transmit the disease. In any case, you should always be careful with your pets regarding the fact that they can bring in infected ticks from outside.
Risk factors for the disease
Although anyone can get bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, there are some factors that increase the risk of being bitten. This is the case with :
- The practice of outdoor activities in wooded and tick prone areas. Thus, hunters, hikers and those who work in the forest or in wet and wooded areas have a significant risk of being bitten
- It is important to come into contact with animals that may be infested with ticks carrying the disease fairly regularly
Symptoms and Stages of Lyme Disease
The biggest problem with Lyme disease is recognizing its symptoms. In fact, when the person does not notice the tick bite, the disease may not be diagnosed until months or even years later. You should also be aware that there are three different stages of Lyme disease.
Stage 1: Early or localized
This phase of the disease lasts up to 6 weeks after the tick bite. Of all the stages of Lyme disease, this is the easiest to treat. In fact, if the disease is diagnosed during this phase, treatment consists of taking antibiotics for 30 days. The patient has every chance of fully recovering after this treatment.
Symptoms during the early stage of Lyme disease are as follows :
- A target-like rash, or erythema migrans, in the days or weeks following the This skin lesion is not accompanied by pain or itching
- Flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, chills, fever or muscle aches and and headaches
Stage 2: Early disseminated stage
This phase of the disease occurs between the sixth week and one year after the injection. It corresponds to the spread of the bacteria through the blood, hence the name "early disseminated stage". It occurs when stage 1 of the disease has not been detected in time or not treated properly. At this stage, the pathology is also treated with antibiotic therapy, which lasts several weeks.
The signs that characterize this phase of Lyme disease are :
- Weakness
- Generalized fatigue
- Skin rashes
- Heart palpitations
- Bone pain similar to arthritis
- Neurological and eye damage
Stage 3: Late disseminated stage
Without treatment, stage 2 becomes more complicated and leads to the development of stage 3 of Lyme disease. This usually occurs within a year or several years after the bite. The symptoms of stage 2 then become more severe and may become chronic. In any case, the late disseminated stage of Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics over several months or even years.
During the third stage of the disease, the following manifestations are most characteristic:
- Late neuroborreliosis: this is an inflammation of the brain as well as the spinal cord. In addition, several sensory nerves or polyneuropathy may also be affected.
- Chronic atrophic acrodermatitis: these are small bluish-coloured lesions on the skin. These skin lesions are mostly located around the joints and in the extremities of the limbs. They are accompanied by thinning of the skin, which becomes increasingly transparent.
- The rheumatologic conditions of the third stage are similar to those of the second stage.
